Amalgamating-machine.



W. CARSON. AMALGAMATING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 1113.24, 1913.

attanearrarrNo-Macnmn pecieatton of.' Letters Patent. i Patmtmd IFltyo fr@ 9350 application niet retruary et, 191e. serial no. 75eme.

or iron free' to roll in the mercury. rlfhev gold tendsvto fall to the bottom of the flowing pulp and the balls operate to rub it into the mercury and promote amalgamation. Movement of the pulp over the tray is promoted by the vibrating movement in which the tray is bumped 7 against buder stops.

An embodiment of the said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

the mechanical details of which are however subject to modication.

Figure l is a perspective view, Fig. 2 a part longitudinal section and Fig. 3 a fragment section showing a suitable form of vibrating mechanism.

As shown, the machine consists of a tray, the bottom A of which is sheeted with steel or iron, the sides B and C and ends D being of timber which may or may not be reinforced or sheeted with metal. rllhis tray is supported level on four or more flexible metal laths E which as shown are secured at the foot to a suitable frame F. lin an alternative arrangement, however, the tray is hung by four or more such flexible metal laths, the upper ends of which are fixed firmly to rootl timbers or to an overhead frame construction. lin either case the tray' is adapted to be vibrated longitudinally, the flexibility of the hanging or standing supports' enabling the vibratory movements to occur freely. Instead of pendant laths, chains or links may be used. rl`he beach sands, battery sand or other like productsv containing free gold are delivered into the tray through a pipe or launder Gr with spread mouth H. The tailings are delivered out of the lower end of the tray over riffles J and K, L being an apron by which the tailings are directed on to copper plates contained on a xed table or tray M by it' desired by al number of longitudinal fences U of stout wire rods `or battens.-

Within the inclosures thus termed, solid spheres-balls-f-of steel or iron F from one to three inches-preferably about three' inches in diameter are loosely placed; they may roll aboutto a certain. extent when the tray is vibratedz'ln practice each division contains from twelve totwenty balls, su'liicientto fill the division nearly, there being about one half inch surplus space each way to give clearance for :tree rolling movement of the balls when the tray is vibrated, The tray is charged with mercury, forming a bath therein as shown at Q, Fig. 2, the precise depth of the mercury bath not being material, but about one eighth to one quarter ot' an inch being suilicient. rlFhe tray is vibrated longitudinally by a quick return crank motiondriven from the overhung pin lt. on the disk S, said pin working in a slot '.l in the link U, the upper end of said link U being connected by an extensible' spring .connecting Vrod V. The delivery end of the tray is armed with bumpers such as W -whichy are disposedto make contact Awith .fixed stops or with bu'ers, -a convenient form of buHer vbeing shown in Fig. 1 consisting of a heavy bar X hung from overhead lines which tend to hold it forward, and restrained by stirrups Y. The necessary iexibility in the bump is thus obtained, the intensity being regulated by adjusting the length of the stirrups Y. 0bviously the bumpers may be placed at the end of the tray instead of below it as shown. The vibrating mechanism and the bumper arrangements operate t0 draw the tray back 4relatively slowly and allow it to/fly back ywith a quick motion under the drag of the springs ci, and also if so arranged by the recoil of the spring supports, until its motion is suddenly arrested by the Contact ot the bumpers W and stop l. Surging of the mercury over the end of the tray with the tailings is prevented by the riiiles J and K of which there may be two. These riiiles are canted forward as shown and are about one inch high so as to hold back a depth of flowing pulp over the mercury bath.

The vibratory motion terminating in a bump at the end of each stroke has the effect of moving the solids-forward in the tray and at the same time causing the iballs to grind the metallic particles in such manner as to expose and clean the gold surfaces and bring them into intimate contact with the mercury, thereby promoting amalgamation thereof. The pulp fed into the machine is suiciehtlyliquid to facilitate a very free flow. y

In practice the tray is made about ten feet long by three feet Wide by four inches deep; but these proportions are notl essential to successful operation.

What I claim as my invention and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is 1. An amalgamator, comprising a flexibly supported tray containing a mercury bath, means dividing said tray into a plurality of signature in presence 0f two Witnesses.

WILLIAM CARSON.

Witnesses:

W. I. Davis, P. OREILLY. 

